A Canadian survey of patients' attitudes toward donation of products of conception for research at the time of their aspiration abortion

Abstract

Objective: We explored patients' attitudes toward donating products of conception for research at the time of their aspiration abortion.

Study design: We surveyed patients presenting for first or second trimester aspiration abortion to the abortion service at British Columbia Women's Hospital over a 6-month period in 2018. Questions explored demographics, attitudes toward tissue donation, willingness to donate products of conception for research, and how the option of donating tissue influenced patients' perception of their abortion. We analyzed quantitative data using descriptive statistics and answers to open-ended questions using content analysis.

Results: The partially tracked response rate to our survey was n = 35 of 46 (76%). Of 98 respondents included for analysis 77 (79%) were willing to donate their products of conception to research. Most respondents (n = 85, 93%), 49 (54%) of whom had ever been offered to actually donate tissue, reported that tissue donation would either positively change (n = 33, 36%) or not change (n = 52, 57%) how they felt at the time of their abortion. The majority of respondents (n = 25, 60%) who were not invited to donate their products of conception would have liked the opportunity to do so. Content analysis of open-ended responses from those willing to donate identified the categories of helping others, contributing to research and providing meaning beyond the respondents' individual experience.

Conclusion: Patients' willingness to donate products of conception to research and their associated positive attitudes provide important support for researchers and clinicians who are involved in research that uses products of conception.

Implications: Our data may inform research programs and abortion clinics involved in research using products of conception by better understanding the patient experience of being involved in this type of research.

Keywords: Abortion; Attitude; Canada; Fetal tissue donation; Fetal tissue research; Surveys and questionnaires.